Goal frame

Abstract

A goal frame has multiple foldable joints and two upright posts, two bottom bars, an upper cross bar, and a lower cross bar connected with each other via the foldable joints. By pivoting the first and second connectors of each of the foldable joints to be perpendicular with each other, relative positions of the upright posts, the bottom bars, the upper cross bar, and the lower cross bar are fixed and the goal frame is unfolded. By pivoting the first and second connectors of each of the foldable joints to parallel with each other, the upright posts, the bottom bars, the upper cross bar, and the lower cross bar overlap and the goal frame is folded.

1 . A goal frame comprising:
 multiple foldable joints, each of the foldable joints having
 a first connector having a connecting end; and 
 a second connector pivotally connected to the first connector and having a connecting end; 
   wherein the first connector and the second connector selectively pivot relative to each other or are fixed at a relative angle;   two upright posts separately disposed parallel to each other, each of the upright posts having an upper end and a lower end;   two bottom bars separately disposed parallel to each other, each of the bottom bars having a rear end and a front end, the front ends of the bottom bars respectively positioned toward the lower ends of the upright posts, the front end of each of the bottom bars connected to the lower end of a corresponding one of the upright posts via one of the foldable joints, the front end of the bottom bar and the lower end of the upright post respectively connected to the connecting end of the first connector and the connecting end of the second connector of the corresponding foldable joint;   an upper cross bar having two opposite ends respectively positioned toward the upper ends of the upright posts, each of the ends of the upper cross bar connected to the upper end of a corresponding one of the upright posts via one of the foldable joints, the end of the upper cross bar and the upper end of the upright post respectively connected to the connecting end of the first connector and the connecting end of the second connector of the corresponding foldable joint;   a lower cross bar having two opposite ends respectively positioned toward the rear ends of the bottom bars, each of the ends of the lower cross bar connected to the rear end of a corresponding one of the bottom bars via one of the foldable joints, the end of the lower cross bar and the rear end of the bottom bar respectively connected to the connecting end of the first connector and the connecting end of the second connector of the corresponding foldable joint;   wherein the first connector of each of the foldable joints further has
 a tenoning end; 
 an axial line; 
 two side panels separately protruding from the tenoning end of the first connector, each of the side panels having a proximal end and an inner surface; 
 a mortise recess defined between the side panels; and 
 at least one engaging groove formed in at least one of the inner surfaces of the side panels, each of the at least one engaging groove extending perpendicular to the axial line of the first connector and having two opposite ends, one of the ends of the engaging groove extending through the proximal end of the side panel; 
   wherein the second connector of each of the foldable joints further has
 a tenoning end; 
 an axial line; 
   a tenoning protrusion protruding from the tenoning end of the second connector, extending along the axial line of the second connector, selectively protruding in the mortise recess, and having a distal end; and   a sliding recess formed in the tenoning protrusion, extending along the axial line of the second connector, and extending through the distal end of the tenoning protrusion; and   wherein each of the foldable joints further has a retaining tenon, the retaining tenon slidably mounted on the second connector and having
 two opposite side surfaces; 
 at least one engaging protrusion formed on at least one of the side surfaces of the retaining tenon and selectively engaging in or disengaging from the at least one engaging groove when the retaining tenon slides relative to the second connector and the first connector; and 
   a sliding protrusion formed on a bottom of the retaining tenon and slidably engaging in the sliding recess of the second connector;   wherein a bottom surface is defined in the sliding recess of the second connector;   wherein the second connector further has a limiting groove formed in the bottom surface of the sliding recess and extending along the axial line of the second connector; and   wherein the retaining tenon further has a limiting protrusion formed on the sliding protrusion and slidably protruding in the limiting groove of the second connector.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The goal frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sliding recess of the second connector and the sliding protrusion of the retaining tenon are dovetailed in cross-section and correspond in size with each other. 
     
     
         5 . The goal frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lower end of each of the upright posts is connected to the connecting end of the foldable joint via a resilient element. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The goal frame as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the upper cross bar and the lower cross bar are telescopic. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The goal frame as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each of the upper and the lower cross bars has
 an outer mounting tube having
 a connecting end connected to a corresponding one of the connecting ends of a corresponding one of the foldable joints; 
 a mounting end; 
 at least one cut groove axially formed in the mounting end of the outer mounting tube; and 
 an outer thread formed on an outer surface of the outer mounting tube and disposed adjacent to the mounting end of the outer mounting tube; 
   a sliding tube having
 a connecting end connected to a corresponding one of the connecting ends of a corresponding one of the foldable joints; and 
 a sliding end protruding in the mounting end of the outer mounting tube; and 
   a holding ring mounted around the mounting end of the outer mounting tube and having an inner thread, the inner thread formed on an inner surface of the holding ring and selectively engaging with the outer thread of the outer mounting tube.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The goal frame as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein
 the outer mounting tube further has an inner stop formed on an inner surface of the outer mounting tube and disposed adjacent to the mounting end of the outer mounting tube; and   the sliding tube further has an outer stop formed on an outer surface of the sliding tube, disposed adjacent to the sliding end of the sliding tube, and mounted between the inner stop and the connecting end of the outer mounting tube.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The goal frame as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein
 the sliding tube includes an outer tube and an inner tube, the outer tube has two ends respectively connected to the corresponding connecting end of the corresponding foldable joint and an end of the inner tube, the inner tube is mounted in the outer mounting tube; and   the outer stop of the sliding tube is formed on an outer surface of the inner tube.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The goal frame as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein
 an outer diameter of the inner tube is smaller than an inner diameter of the outer mounting tube; and   an outer diameter of the outer tube is equal to an outer diameter of the outer mounting tube.